Utah Tops the Charts in Educational Outcomes

Utah’s recent ranking as the second-best state for education comes as no surprise, given its reputation as a top place to teach. The state’s impressive educational outcomes are a testament to its commitment to investing in the classroom.

According to a U.S. News & World Report ranking released in May 2024, Utah was named the second-best state in the nation for education, just behind Florida. The ranking was based on the performance of Utah’s K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. Key metrics tracked by the magazine include preschool enrollment, eighth-grade NAEP scores, high school graduation rates, and college readiness scores.

This ranking comes on the heels of Utah being named the second-best state to be a teacher by Forbes magazine. Forbes looked at teacher salaries, the cost of living in each state, and retirement benefits, among other measures.

“Utah’s ranking in both reports is a testament to our commitment to investing in the classroom,” said Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins. “We’ve invested in our education professionals, and it’s paying off in terms of student success.”

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “an investment in education gives the best returns.” This is reflected in the U.S. News and World Report rankings, which rate Utah as the best state in the country based on its high scores in education, the economy, infrastructure, and fiscal stability.

Utah’s Rankings at a Glance

• #2 Education
• #3 Economy
• #3 Infrastructure
• #6 Fiscal Stability
• #9 Crime and Corrections
• #14 Health Care
• #18 Opportunity
• #46 Natural Environment